Separator for adjusting the human vertebrae



y 1939-v A. c. PECKHAM 2,160,709

SEPARATOR FOR ADJUSTING THE HUMAN VERTEBRAE Filed; March 13, 1936 A RTHU1? 0 PECKHAM I MW:

Patented May 30, 1939 SEPARATOR FOR ADJUSTING THE HUMAN I VERTEBRAEArthur C. Peckham, Watertown, N. Y.

Application March 13, 1936, Serial No. 68,676

1 Claim.

My invention relates to an adjustable spine brace and I declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereofsufiicient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingin which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout thespecification.

The object of the invention is to produce a spinal brace that will exertpressure at two different locations on the spine, whereby to effect astretching of the spine or what is known in medical science as a hyperextension or hyper fiexion of the spine. Furthermore, this pressure willeffect a specific immobilization and thereby allow for correction of thevertebrae in the spine in any area from'the sacrum to the occiput.

It is a well known fact that due to abnormal conditions from time totime vertebrae in the spinal column become misplaced, that is, eithermoved too far in or too far out of alignment with the contiguousvertebrae. If under these conditions a stretching or pressure is appliedto the spine in opposite directions the contiguous vertebrae willseparate and thereby allow the unaligned vertebra to move back intoalignment. The brace will also be corrective in spondylolisthesis,kiphosis, or abnormal pressure of one vertebra to another, fractures ofthe vertebrae and in any condition in which it is desired to relieveabnormal weight bearing between one vertebra and another, or any groupof vertebrae and others.

The object will be more fully understood by the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the brace and its immediate belts forconnecting the same to the body of the wearer.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts being in section showing the braceapplied to the wearer to correct for one of the vertebrae that is movedin- Ward.

Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged view showing a central vertical section ofthe fragment of the brace.

Fig. 4 is a modification showing the brace inverted and applied to thebody to correct for a vertebra that is moved outward.

Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged view showing a perspective of one of theparts employed.

Fig. 6 is a detailed enlarged view showing a perspective of a buckleemployed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the brace embodies a spring Imade of flat piece of resilient metal and arched to form a concaveconvexsurface for a purpose hereinafter explained. Spring is covered with somesuitable material such as chamois. rubber, leather, or woven fabric 2,whereby the metal part will not come directly in contact with the body.There is attached to the upper end 3 of spring I twin pads 4, 4.

Pads 4, 4 are made preferably of gum rubber or some resilient material.They are held together in spaced relation to each other by a metallicplate 5 which is imbedded in the adjacent upper surfaces of pads 4, 4,whereby to be flush with the upper surfaces, and held thereto byvulcanizing or rivets 8. A screw threaded aperture 1 is made in plate 5and is engaged by threaded bolt 8, whereby to hold said twin pads 4, 4to spring I.

Pads 4, 4 are adjustable within certain limits relative to the end 3 ofspring I. The means embodies an elongated aperture 9 formed by anopening through spring I and its covering 2 in which aperture 9, bolt 8,that project therethrough slides and engages plate 5 attached to pads 4,4. The headed end of bolt 8 has a slot ID for application of a screwdriver, whereby to turn said bolt and thereby draw plate 5 tightlyagainst the contiguous surface of spring I, whereby to hold it rigidlyin place.

Two similar twin pads II, II are mounted to the lower end l2 of spring Iunless pads are to be applied to sacrum in which instance it will be asingle pad rather than a twin pad.

Pads 4, 4 and pads H, H are approximately triangular in shape, wherebythe outer or free surfaces 20 of pads 4, 4 and 2| of pads H, H whenplaced in contact with any part of the vertebrae from the sacrum to theocciput and pressure inward is applied at its central portion to springI will cause pads 4, 4 and II, II to exert a force in oppositedirections on the spine, whereby to aid in separating the vertebrae 25.This force exerted on the spine to separate the luxated or sub-luxatedvertebrae 25 which is equivalent to a pull on either end of the spinewill assist or allow the unaligned vertebra 26 to move back into normalposition as shown in Fig. 2.

The means for attaching spring I and its connecting pads to the body 2!of the wearer embodies belts 36 and 3|. The upper belt 30 has the usualbuckle 32 which engages end 33 of belt 30. Belt 30 is made of heavyrubber. When end 33 thereof engages buckle 32 and drawn to apredetermined tightness about the body, tongue 34 will pierce a holethrough the adjacent part of end 33, whereby to hold said belt topredetermined tightness about the body.

Belt can be adjusted relative to its position on spring I by means ofloops 40, 4|. Loops 40, 4| are attached by rivets 42 and adjacent theupper end 3 of spring I.

The lower belt 3| is made of metal and encircles the body about half wayand to the ends of which are attached by rivets heavy rubber belts 36,36. The metal band 3| is permanently attached, however, by rivets 45, orotherwise adjacent to the lower end l2 of spring I.

In addition to belts 30, 3| there is also a wider belt which is attachedby rivets 5| or otherwise to spring One end of wide belt 50 has tabs 52,four or more in number which engage automatic friction holding buckles55, whereby to draw the central portion of spring I to any predeterminedv tightness against the vertebrae 25 of the spine.

In operation the brace will be applied to that portion of the spine inwhich one or more of the vertebrae 26 are displaced as for instance,that shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that when belt 50 is tightenedto a more or less degree about the body of the wearer, springl will beforced more or less toward a fiat plane, whereby its upper end 3 and itslower end l2 will tend to separate or move away from each other andthereby force pads 4, 4 and H in opposite directions. This force exertedon pads 4, 4 will tend to stretch that portion of the spinal columntherebetween, whereby the vertebrae 25 will separate and create anopening between the same to allow the displaced vertebrae 26 to move intowards normal position in the spine.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is for correcting a vertebra as whichhas moved not inwardly as shown in Fig. 2 but outwardly. In thismodification spring I is reversed. Twin pads 6|, 6| made of a resilientgum rubber or other suitable substance is attached to the concavo-convexsurface adjacent the central part of spring 62. In this instance belts63 and 64 will be employed similar to the arrangement of belts 39 and 3|in the former construction. Belts 63 will be adjustable relative to itsposition on spring I and belt 64 will be permanently attached and bemade of metal to encircle the body about half way with heavy rubberbelts 35, 35 attached thereto to complete the circle.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

A separator for adjusting the human vertebrae, consisting of a resilientarched member of a length of a plurality of vertebrae, having pads atthe extremity thereof on the concave side of said arched member and abelt on the resilient member overlying the convex side approximately atthe middle thereof for attachment to the body, whereby tightening saidbelt the pads will separate and spread the vertebrae between the pads.

ARTHUR c. PECKHAM.

